Sugar & Spike #54

Sheldon Mayer's Sugar & Spike hits the beach in this charming 1964 "Big Summer Vacation Issue," and the cover says it all: little Spike has dug himself so deep into the sand that only his head and shovel are visible, while Sugar looks on with knowing exasperation, declaring he'll never be allowed to take that hole home. The sunny shoreline behind them — beachgoers, a ball game, and all the trappings of a perfect summer day — sets a wonderfully breezy tone for the duo's seaside misadventures. If you love Mayer's warm, witty take on the world as seen through the eyes of two very determined toddlers, this is a delightful snapshot of the series at its most playful.